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unspellable · 08-30-2005, 01:18 PM

The 45 Smith & Wesson or 45 Schofield did have a wider rim that could prevent chambering six rounds in the SAA. That's the sole and entire reason for the existence of the 45 Government or 45 Short Colt. The 45 Schofield was issued along side the 45 Colt as a secondary cartridge. The 45 Government was developed to work in both revolvers (At the slight risk of getting hung up under the extractor in the Schofield.) and became the single first line issue cartridge. It was the standard issue cartridge during the latter part of the Indian wars, not the 45 Schofield which never achieved any status beyond that of a secondary issue cartridge.

Note that if you buy modern brass headstamped 45 Schofield it usually has a 45 Government rim, a manufacturing short cut since it is just a cut back 45 Colt case. Thus modern 45 Schoefield headstamped brass will chamber six in a SAA. It's really 45 Government/45 Short Colt brass mismarked 45 Schofield.

The issue came up again with the 1909 Colt 45. It has the wider rim for a star extractor. The 1909 new Service was meant to take the 45 Colt as a secondary cartridge as the old army issue SSA's had been pulled out of mothballs at the time.

08-30-2005, 01:18 PM	#18
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	45 S&W vs 45 Government The 45 Smith & Wesson or 45 Schofield did have a wider rim that could prevent chambering six rounds in the SAA. That's the sole and entire reason for the existence of the 45 Government or 45 Short Colt. The 45 Schofield was issued along side the 45 Colt as a secondary cartridge. The 45 Government was developed to work in both revolvers (At the slight risk of getting hung up under the extractor in the Schofield.) and became the single first line issue cartridge. It was the standard issue cartridge during the latter part of the Indian wars, not the 45 Schofield which never achieved any status beyond that of a secondary issue cartridge. Note that if you buy modern brass headstamped 45 Schofield it usually has a 45 Government rim, a manufacturing short cut since it is just a cut back 45 Colt case. Thus modern 45 Schoefield headstamped brass will chamber six in a SAA. It's really 45 Government/45 Short Colt brass mismarked 45 Schofield. The issue came up again with the 1909 Colt 45. It has the wider rim for a star extractor. The 1909 new Service was meant to take the 45 Colt as a secondary cartridge as the old army issue SSA's had been pulled out of mothballs at the time.